Government Troops Retake Two More Towns In Eastern Ukraine From Separatist Rebels

National Guard soldiers inspect weapons captured from rebels in Slaviansk July 6, 2014. Ukraine's government said it would quickly seize more territory from rebels after re-taking the separatist stronghold of Slavyansk in what President Petro Poroshenko called a turning point in the fight for control of the country's east. Photo: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Ukrainian forces have retaken two more cities in the east from separatist rebels, a day after recapturing Slovyansk, President Petro Poroshenko said on his Web site.

The BBC said the announcement on the retaking of Artyomivsk and Druzhkivka came as pro-separatist demonstrators rallied in Donetsk, waving Russian flags and those of the Donetsk People's Republic. They called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to their aid.

RT reported government artillery was unleashed on Luhansk and aircraft flew sorties over the city's suburbs.

"My order is now in effect -- tighten the ring around the terrorists," Poroshenko tweeted on Sunday. "Continue the operation to liberate Donetsk and Luhanskregions," he said, naming Ukraine's two major eastern parts which have boiled with separatist rebellion since April. Reuters reported Poroshenko called the recapture of Slovyansk a turning point in the conflict.

Rebel forces were reported regrouping in Donetsk after abandoning Slovyansk Saturday. Ukraine's prison service said rebels destroyed guard headquarters in Donetsk in a bid to capture weapons, Interfax-Ukraine reported.